Sri Lanka T20 Team Owner Arrested For Graft Allegations

The foreign owner of a T20 cricket team in Sri Lanka’s Premier League (LPL) was arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of corruption, police said, a day after a highly publicized player auction.

Tamim Rahman, the owner of Dambulla Thunders and a British national, was stopped at Colombo airport before boarding a flight to Dubai. Police and immigration officials informed AFP that he was arrested following a court order on suspicion of match-fixing.

Rahman has been remanded in custody until May 31 pending further investigations. He is being investigated under two provisions of the sports act related to match-fixing and attempting to organize betting.

A special police unit specializing in sports corruption carried out the arrest, marking the first time an official from the LPL tournament, which began four years ago, has been detained.

Those convicted under the sports act could face substantial fines and up to 10 years in prison.

On Tuesday, Rahman’s Dambulla team spent $450,000 to purchase 24 players, including Afghanistan’s all-rounder Karim Janat for $80,000, the most expensive foreign player.

Following the corruption allegations against Rahman, the tournament organizers terminated the rights of the Dambulla Thunders. The LPL rights holder, IPG Group, stated, “This termination/retraction of rights aims to uphold the values and reputation of the LPL, ensuring that all participants adhere to the highest standards of conduct and sportsmanship.”

It is not immediately clear whether the five-team tournament will proceed with only four teams or if a replacement for the Dambulla Thunders will be arranged.

The LPL tournament is set to begin on July 1 and conclude on July 21.